Bramble-cutting device



:(ModeL) H. M; OLEMENTS'.

Bramble Cutting Device,

No. 238,854. I Patented March 15, I881.

N PEI'E!ZS, PHOTO-LITNOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C,

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAMILTON M. GLEMENTS, OF VERONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BRAMBLE-CUTTING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 238,854, dated March15, 1881.

Application filed June 26,1880. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern Be itknown that I, HAMILTON M. CLEM- ENTS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Verona, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference markedthereon, which form apart of this specification.

My invention relates to an improved device for cutting down brambles,shrubs, and weeds.

With the devices heretofore generally used for these purposes greatdelay, pain, and annoyance have been caused to the operator by thebrambles and poisonous vegetation falling upon him, becoming entangledin his clothing, and laceratin g and poisoning his person.

The object of this invention is to provide a device with which the laborcan be performed easily and speedily, and in operating which the userwill always be the length of the handle (several feet) away fromthebrambles which are being cut, thus preventing them from falling uponhim. The operator is further protected by the action of the devicecausing the brambles to fall away from him when cut 0%. I attain theseobjects by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a plan view of the complete device when closed. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the complete device when open, with the top of the pointremoved, so as to show a sectional view horizontally through the pointat the place where the cutting-knives are fastened to said point, andFig. 3 is an edge view.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in each view.

The shaft A is provided with a V-shaped head, B, which terminates at itsouter end or apex in a sharp point, B, which is curved upward, as shown,so that it can be readily slipped along the surface-ground. The base orinner end of the head B extends outward from the sides of. the shaft, sothat it will furnish a strong and substantial support for the kniveshereinafter described. The base of the head has formed in itthevhorizontal. slot B within which are bolted the knives, ashereinafter explained. The slot I? maybe formed by having the upperportion, B made in a separate plate and neatly fitted in rabbets formedin the head.

0 G are pivoted blades, having their ends placed in the slot B andturning on pivots or bolts 6. When the head is thrust into a cluster ofbrambles the blades will close in against the shaft. The pivotal ends,being entirely concealed in the slot in the head, will not catch on thebrambles. The head will crowd the brambles apart and the cutter caneasily be thrust any distance into the cluster.

The knife D is made V-shaped, with its base placedin the slot B and itspoint or apex extended outward and along the shaft A, so that itpresents inclined cutting-edges on opposite sides thereof. It is fixedrigidly in its place.

If the shaft be thrustinto a thicket of brambles'and then drawn back,the blades 0 0 will open, as shown in Fig. 2, and they will cut allbefore them to the initial position.

It will be seen that by reason of the peculiar sh ape of the head B itcan be readily thrust into the thicket, whether it be pushed along onthe surface of the ground or at any given point above the surface. Thewide base of and slot'in the head give perfect protection to the ends ofthe knives when the device is being thrust into the thicket.

The operator, drawing the device toward him and stepping back, willalways be, while cutting, the length of the handle from the cut andfalling brambles. The drawingof the device toward the operator alsodraws the butt or ground ends of the brambles toward him, causing thetops to fall away from him, thus always having the length of the handlebetween him and the brambles or poisonous vegetation, and they fallingaway from him completely prevents them from becoming entangled in hisclothing or lacerating or poisoning his person.

In the bramble-scythe now generally in usev the cutting-blade isentirely on one side of the handle or snead, which causes wrenching andtwisting of the person of the operator, rapidly exhausting him. In mydevice there being a shaped head B, having slot B and the blades G 0,having their ends pivoted in the slot B and opening laterally onopposite sides of the shaft, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

3. The combination, with the shaft having a pointed head and the bladespivoted to the head, of the fixed knife having opposite inclinedcutting-edges, arranged to operate substantially as described and shown.

4. The improved bramble-cutter, composed of a shaft terminating in apointed head, lateral blades pivoted to the head and openingautomatically, and the fixed blade having" cutting-edges on oppositesides of the shaft, all arranged to operate substantially as describedand shown.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 0 presence of twowitnesses.

HAMILTON M. (ELEMENTS.

Witnesses:

J. A. McOoNNELL, JOHN W. MCDADE.

